Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2012
Volunteer Emma Sanders Aims To Raise £10,000 For Catching Lives
Thanks for taking the time to look at my Kilimanjaro page in aid of Catching Lives.
As a volunteer for Catching Lives I have seen for myself the amazing work that they do for vulnerable and homeless people in Canterbury. I have met some of the people who benefit from their services and am struck by how they are straight forward every day normal people, who enjoy to chat and are themselves interested in me. The only difference is that they have been victims of unfortunate circumstances, often out of their own control and, unlike me, they do not have the support systems to fall back on when things go wrong.
As a volunteer for Catching Lives I have seen for myself the amazing work that they do for vulnerable and homeless people in Canterbury. I have met some of the people who benefit from their services and am struck by how they are straight forward every day normal people, who enjoy to chat and are themselves interested in me. The only difference is that they have been victims of unfortunate circumstances, often out of their own control and, unlike me, they do not have the support systems to fall back on when things go wrong.
As a foster carer and a volunteer with disadvantaged teenagers I have experience of the challenges that so many young people face as they make their way in a world that is often judgemental and unforgiving. Children in care are stigmatized and labelled. Many are subjected to regular home moves which result in them not settling in one place, not making good relationships and having to change schools. Being a teenager is hard at the best of times but with these added pressures it is not surprising that many find themselves in difficult and unsafe situations. All of this is because of experiences out of their control and not of their choosing. Without a high level of understanding, patience and support these young people will be the homeless of tomorrow.
Hence my interest in helping today’s homeless comes. In the same way as the vulnerable young people, they also need understanding, patience and support to help them make life changing improvements. This can be, help into safe and warm accommodation, to find work, to address issues from their past and to look toward a brighter future. One huge disadvantage homeless people have is the lack of a postal address. It is very difficult to engage with support services, get benefits or find work without an address. Catching Lives offers a postal address to the homeless people they work with to alleviate this. They also offer assessment of needs, access to telephones and computers, breakfast and lunch daily, and generally a reliable support network with a collective goal to improve life’s circumstances.
Catching Lives is a charity that relies on donations, volunteers and fundraising. I feel very fortunate with opportunities that I have had in life and as such I am currently enjoying a lifestyle which means I have some spare time, so I have decided to raise money to literally help keep Catching Lives open in these difficult financial times.
The summit of Kilimanjaro, the rooftop of Africa, is my goal! Kilimanjaro is the tallest free standing mountain in the world and stands at 5,895m (19,340ft). Its snow capped peak is one of the most recognisable sights in the world of adventure. I will be leaving the UK on Wednesday 22nd February 2012 and will commence climbing the Rongai route on Friday 24th February for 6 days. I hope to be able to send progress reports and photographs, so be sure to keep an eye on this site to keep up to date with my progress.
I thank you for your interest in my challenge and I really appreciate any money that you would like to donate to help me reach or even exceed my goal of £10,000. I am funding the climb myself so all money raised will go straight to Catching Lives and help Canterbury’s homeless people. Thank you. Please follow me on www.twitter.com/emmalousanders
You can follow this topic via Catching Lives' Facebook Page, Twitter or by signing up to receive our friendly email newsletter once a month. To receive our newsletter please register here.
Target £ 10,000
Total raised so far
£ 1,740
Still to go
£ 8,260
(updated weekly)
Anonymous £ 250
Mr J Gillard £ 10
Mrs H Moulds £ 15
Mrs B Howe £ 50
Mrs L Howe £ 250
Ms A Spelman £ 15
Mr B Laidlaw £ 37
Miss V Sanders£ 216
Mrs R Dowling £ 2
Miss H Andrews£ 20
Anonymous £ 3
Mr D Bull £ 10
Mrs E Tunnicliffe£ 50
Mr B Sanders £ 20
Miss White (Pinny)£10
Mr M Harris £ 25
Mrs S Smith £ 10
Mrs P Bridgeford £ 20
Mrs S Appleby £ 50
Mrs D Lawson£ 52
Mrs B Howe £ 50
Anonymous £ 50
Anonymous £ 5
Mrs M Wheatley£ 50
Mr J Fryer £ 5
Mrs E Manning£ 20
Mr S Connelly £ 10
Mrs G Coultrip£ 20
Mrs F Murch £ 25
Mr P Metcalf £ 20
Miss C laidlaw £ 10
Mrs P Wydenbach£10
Mr D Laidlaw £ 25
Mr K Murgatroyd £ 15
Miss M Forster £ 20
Miss J Hollis £ 25
Ms E Ade-Kosoko£ 5
Mr D Nichols £ 10
Mrs O Nichols £ 10
Mrs S Hill £ 10
Mrs R Joblin £ 20
MrsA Underdown£ 10
Dr A Onslow £ 50
Mrs L Thomas £ 25
Mrs PD Missing£ 5
Mrs H Baird £ 5
Ms C Gardiner £ 50
Mr B Taylor £ 20
Mrs J Hawkes £ 50
£ 1,740
Still to go
£ 8,260
(updated weekly)
Anonymous £ 250
Mr J Gillard £ 10
Mrs H Moulds £ 15
Mrs B Howe £ 50
Mrs L Howe £ 250
Ms A Spelman £ 15
Mr B Laidlaw £ 37
Miss V Sanders£ 216
Mrs R Dowling £ 2
Miss H Andrews£ 20
Anonymous £ 3
Mr D Bull £ 10
Mrs E Tunnicliffe£ 50
Mr B Sanders £ 20
Miss White (Pinny)£10
Mr M Harris £ 25
Mrs S Smith £ 10
Mrs P Bridgeford £ 20
Mrs S Appleby £ 50
Mrs D Lawson£ 52
Mrs B Howe £ 50
Anonymous £ 50
Anonymous £ 5
Mrs M Wheatley£ 50
Mr J Fryer £ 5
Mrs E Manning£ 20
Mr S Connelly £ 10
Mrs G Coultrip£ 20
Mrs F Murch £ 25
Mr P Metcalf £ 20
Miss C laidlaw £ 10
Mrs P Wydenbach£10
Mr D Laidlaw £ 25
Mr K Murgatroyd £ 15
Miss M Forster £ 20
Miss J Hollis £ 25
Ms E Ade-Kosoko£ 5
Mr D Nichols £ 10
Mrs O Nichols £ 10
Mrs S Hill £ 10
Mrs R Joblin £ 20
MrsA Underdown£ 10
Dr A Onslow £ 50
Mrs L Thomas £ 25
Mrs PD Missing£ 5
Mrs H Baird £ 5
Ms C Gardiner £ 50
Mr B Taylor £ 20
Mrs J Hawkes £ 50